DOOM: The Dark Ages Reviews
The Dark Ages has some of the best combat in Doom history, but dull new features make it the weakest of the modern Doom games.
DOOM: The Dark Ages goes for something slightly different as it turns back time for a medieval assault on hell's legions. Not every change pays off, as the introduction of a mech and dragon adds very little to the overall experience. However, when The Dark Ages gets to the FPS action, there aren't many who do it better than id Software. Take some time to adjust to DOOM: The Dark Ages, and you'll discover another fantastically ferocious first-person shooter.
id Software once again found a way to reinvent the DOOM formula, adding new gameplay elements such as the thoroughly enjoyable shield saw. DOOM: The Dark Ages is nonstop, adrenaline-fuelled thrill ride from start to finish. This blockbuster demands your full attention as the best FPS this year so far.
We're unsure if the game's additions are enough to compensate for what's been lost from Doom Eternal, but the foundation of slaying hordes of demons in visceral and bloody battles remains as fun as ever.
Doom: The Dark Ages nails that feeling of "classic Doom in a new era," thanks to its relentless combat, interesting if not perfectly suitable levels, and hordes upon hordes of demons.
DOOM is and will always be synonymous with the FPS. Each new installment shows us that the genre can go beyond what many are accustomed to, and with DOOM: The Dark Ages, id Software once again shows its mastery. The level design is more open, placing a strong emphasis on exploration and allowing each player to create the experience they enjoy most. Shields and melee weapons encourage aggression and constant movement, utilizing classic concepts from the series and rearranging them in a way that feels innovative.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It's not just a DOOM in iron armor: it's another beast.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The passages that most clearly distance themselves from this beating heart are also the most dissonant, but the average quality of the experience still stands at very high levels. Yes, perhaps The Dark Ages is a less organic product than the previous Eternal, but we find it impossible to free it from the threshold of excellence.
Review in Italian | Read full review
DOOM The Dark Ages puts us in a rather delicate position. On the one hand, we absolutely loved playing as the Slayer in a disproportionate medieval universe, thanks to a gameplay both "old-school" and modern, more brutal and enjoyable than ever, and even more accessible. On the other hand, the studio's attempts to bring more depth to the franchise's lore and game mechanics fell seriously flat overall. That didn't however stop us from having a monstrous blast eviscerating armies of demons, with a graphical and technical slap that was still as masterful as ever.
Review in French | Read full review
Thanks to numerous customizable parameters such as game speed, damage values, and the size of the parry window, everyone can create their own unique challenge. Add to that the numerous UI, graphics, audio, and accessibility settings (see box above), making The Dark Ages the most accessible Doom game to date—and a true showcase shooter in this area.
Review in German | Read full review
Doom: The Dark Ages is a heavyweight shooter that, at its core, is lighter on its feet than its predecessor. However, id has at times gone too wide with its half-baked new features and open level design. Rip and tear, until it is done. But please, Slayer, get out of the damn robot.
Doom: The Dark Ages is definitely a game that you play for the shooting mechanics and not the story, but the newly implemented Shield Saw brings a breath of fresh, aggressive air to the demon-slaying fun.
Ever wondered about where the DOOM Slayer (aka DOOM Guy) came from and what his deal is? Me neither, but developer id Software is here to tell you all...
Doom: The Dark ages trades Eternal's speed and complexity for a slower almost methodical approach to the classic combat that put the series on the map so many years ago. While not every addition works in It's favour, it still delivers a satisfying experience. And while The Dark Ages is not the Doom game that I was expecting, it's still one that I welcome to the already illustrious Doom canon.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is an excellent addition to the series, expanding on the lore of DOOM while introducing some new and engaging combat.
DOOM: The Dark Ages swaps out space-age speed for steel-shod fury, and it works wonders. This isn't just a prequel, but a ballad sung in blood and fire where every flail swing and shield parry feels like gospel. Sure, the dragon rides and giant Atlan mech missions are very weak, and you might need the horsepower of a car to run it at maximum settings on PC, but when most of the time you're shredding armies of Hellspawn with a gun that grinds skulls for ammo, who cares? This is the Slayer in his knightly prime. Long live the king of ripping and tearing.
With stellar combat, incredible weapons, hellish monsters to fight, and excellently implemented gameplay and design changes, DOOM: The Dark Ages delivers an excellent new style of DOOM, while still retaining the series' core strengths.
The Dark Ages is the best post-reboot game in the series. It may not distance itself from the predecessors (both are great), but none of them pulled me in so hard and for so long. What’s more, I just sat through the end credits and I immediately want to begin the slaughter again.
Review in Polish | Read full review
DOOM: The Dark Ages is like watching a good 90s action film: Turn your brain off and just enjoy the bang bangs and explosions. This game is the perfect lazy weekend game that is fast and furious... and you will ignore your family to play it. Or you can stream it if you want to, and just watch your chat go nuts as you rip and tear until it is done...
I don’t enjoy this style of Doom compared to that of the previous two games -- it's just not the Doom I've grown to love. That said, The Dark Ages is in no way a bad game. Fans of classic Doom will really enjoy similarities in its larger areas, the high volume of slower projectiles to dodge, and the constant need to push forward.